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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Agreement
Date: 3 Mar 1993
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001)
Former Yugoslavia

The disintegration of former Yugoslavia post cold war saw conflicts which became mediated and produced peace agreements in Slovenia (where the brief independence conflict was mediated by the EC Troika in 1991), Croatia (between Croatian and Serb populations 1991-1995), in Bosnia (between Croatian, Serb and Bosniak populations 1992-1995), in Macedonia (where mediation played a key pre-emptive role in preventing large scale conflict in 2001), in Kosovo (between Kosovar Albanians and Serbian population and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), but also between FRY and NATO, 1998-1999), and a conflict in the Presevo Valley (between Albanians in South Serbia and FRY, 2000-2001). The continued fall-out of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia also saw mediated agreement and ultimate dissolution of the Union between Serbia and Montenegro.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

In 1991, after nationalist parties won the first multi-party elections in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a violent process of disintegration commenced. With its mixed population, Bosnia-Herzegovina became the centre of the following civil war that began in 1992 between the newly formed army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly Muslim Bosniacs), and the parastatal forces of self-declared Bosnian Croat (Herzeg-Bosnia) and Bosnian Serb (Republika Srpska) entities within Bosnia-Herzegovina, supported by Croatia and Serbia, with various, often short-lived, coalitions. The General Framework Agreement (Dayton Peace Agreement), signed in 1995, split the country into two ethno-federal entities, the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska, and included continued peacekeeping and institutional administration by international actors.

Kosovo

The conflict between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians has a long history and always involved territorial disputes as well as ethno-political, cultural and linguistic factors. The most recent phase of the conflict began in November 1997 when the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK) began their campaign for the independence of Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY – then Serbia and Montenegro). The subsequent war lasted until the NATO intervention, which undertook bombing campaigns of Belgrade and other places in Serbia during spring 1999. The main agreements solving the conflict were internationally driven and, finally, a UNSC resolution imposed a post-conflict arrangement in the wake of what was essentially a NATO military victory. In February 2008, Kosovo’s parliament declared independence, but independence is still internationally disputed.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: Alija Izetbegovic, Haris Silajdzic; Mate Boban, Mile Akmadzic
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement provides for implementation of the comprehensive peace package being negotiated at the time (Vance-Owen plan), and commits the Bosnian leadership to sign parts of the plan which they had previously refused. It provides for an interim presidency, with rotating membership along ethnic lines (Muslim, Croat and Serb).

Agreement document: BA_930303_Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Substantive
Page 1, 6.
The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government. There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples. Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No. 7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the interim Presidency.

Page 1, 7.
The nine members of the interim Presidency shall designate one member to serve as President of the Presidency. The President will perform the role of head of State. The position of President will rotate every six months among the three constituent peoples in accordance with the existing sequence of rotation (Muslim, Croat and Serb).

Page 2, 9.
The parties have submitted the following six names to serve in the interim Presidency: Fikret Abdic, Mile Akmadzic, Franjo Beras, Ejup Ganic, Alija Izetbegovic and Miro Lasic. The Co-Chairmen will ask the Bosnian Serbs to propose three Serb representatives to serve on the Presidency.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: Page 1, 1.
1. Upon the signing of the comprehensive peace package by President Izetbegovic, both sides agree that all provinces will be considered a part of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will not be considered national territories.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: Page 1, 3.
Once the peace agreements have been signed, the parties agree to fly the current flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina along the international borders of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on all public buildings of Bosnia and Herzegovina until a flag has been agreed by all the parties under the new constitution.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
Page 1, 2.
During the period of interim government, both sides agree to fully respect the authorized decisions of the Presidency and the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Page 1, 6.
The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government. There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples. Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No. 7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the
interim Presidency.

Page 2, 10.
The parties agree that in the interim period the continuity of the legal institutions of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be preserved to the extent possible and compatible with the nine Constitutional Principles.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 1, 3.
Once the peace agreements have been signed, the parties agree to fly the current flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina along the international borders of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on all public buildings of Bosnia and Herzegovina until a flag has been agreed by all the parties under the new constitution.

Page 1, 4.
The responsibilities of the Presidency, the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Provinces will be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitutional Principles agreed and signed by the parties.

Page 1, 6.
The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government. There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples. Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No. 7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the
interim Presidency.

Page 2, 10.
The parties agree that in the interim period the continuity of the legal institutions of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be preserved to the extent possible and compatible with the nine Constitutional Principles.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalition
State level
Page 1, 6.
The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government. There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples. Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No. 7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the
interim Presidency.

Page 1, 7.
The nine members of the interim Presidency shall designate one member to serve as President of the Presidency. The President will perform the role of head of State. The position of President will rotate every six months among the three constituent peoples in accordance with the existing sequence of rotation (Muslim, Croat and Serb).

Page 1, 8.
The interim Presidency will take its decisions by consensus of nine, by a qualified majority of seven or by a simple majority of five depending on whether the decision relates to a constitutional principle, or specially important questions, or to normal business of the Presidency. If the members of the interim Presidency are unable to agree on the applicable majority, they will consult the Co-Chairmen whose decision will be binding.

Page 2, 9.
The parties have submitted the following six names to serve in the interim Presidency: Fikret Abdic, Mile Akmadzic, Franjo Beras, Ejup Ganic, Alija Izetbegovic and Miro Lasic. The Co-Chairmen will ask the Bosnian Serbs to propose three Serb representatives to serve on the Presidency.
Power sharing→Political power sharing→Form of 'veto' or communal majority
State level
Page 1, 8.
The interim Presidency will take its decisions by consensus of nine, by a qualified majority of seven or by a simple majority of five depending on whether the decision relates to a constitutional principle, or specially important questions, or to normal business of the Presidency. If the members of the interim Presidency are unable to agree on the applicable majority, they will consult the Co-Chairmen whose decision will be binding.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, 5.
In the light of General Nambiar's letter dated 1 March 1993 on the control of heavy weapons (see appendix), President Izetbegovic has agreed to sign the military agreement.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 6.
The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government. There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples. Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No. 7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the interim Presidency.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Letter dated 93/03/03 from the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/47/901), pp. 2-3
http://repository.un.org/

Agreement

President Izetbegovic, Dr. Silajdzic, Mr. Boban and Prime Minister Akmadzic hereby agree as follows:

1. Upon the signing of the comprehensive peace package by President Izetbegovic, both sides agree that all provinces will be considered a part of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will not be considered national territories.

2. During the period of interim government, both sides agree to fully respect the authorized decisions of the Presidency and the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

3. Once the peace agreements have been signed, the parties agree to fly the current flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina along the international borders of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on all public buildings of Bosnia and Herzegovina until a flag has been agreed by all the parties under the new constitution.

4. The responsibilities of the Presidency, the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Provinces will be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitutional Principles agreed and signed by the parties.

5. In the light of General Nambiar's letter dated 1 March 1993 on the control of heavy wea.pons (see appendix), President Izetbegovic has agreed to sign the military agreement.

6. The parties agree that the institution of the Presidency shall be preserved during the period of interim government.

There will be nine members on the interim Presidency, with three representatives from each of the three constituent peoples.

Since the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be demilitarized as provided for in Constitutional Principle No.

7, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will not continue to serve in the interim Presidency.

7. The nine members of the interim Presidency shall designate one member to serve as President of the Presidency.

The President will perform the role of head of State.

The position of President will rotate every six months among the three constituent peoples in accordance with the existing sequence of rotation (Muslim, Croat and Serb).

8. The interim Presidency will take its decisions by consensus of nine, by a qualified majority of seven or by a simple majority of five depending on whether the decision relates to a constitutional principle, or specially important questions, or to normal business of the Presidency.

If the members of the interim Presidency are unable to agree on the applicable majority, they will consult the Co-Chairmen whose decision will be binding.

9. The parties have submitted the following six names to serve in the interim Presidency:

Fikret Abdic, Mile Akmadzic, Franjo Beras, Ejup Ganic, Alija Izetbegovic and Miro Lasic.

The Co-Chairmen will ask the Bosnian Serbs to propose three Serb representatives to serve on the Presidency.

10. The parties agree that in the interim period the continuity of the legal institutions of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be preserved to the extent possible and compatible with the nine Constitutional Principles.

Dated:

3 March 1993

(Signed) Alija IZETBEGOVIC (Signed) Mate BOBAN

(Signed) Haris SILAJDZIC (Signed) Mile AKMADZIC